Kristin Strybing, MS, FNP-BC Chief Nurse Practitioner
Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center Department of Neurological Surgery
• 1.5 Million people affected worldwide • 1% of Americans >50 years old • About 40,000 cases diagnosed annually • Male to female 3:2 • Despite promising research, no cure exists
• Direct health-related expenses, indirect disability expenses and lost productivity in the U.S. amount to 25 million annually*
• Anti-parkinsonian drugs cost insurers and patients $1,000 to $6,000 per year*
* Michael J. Fox Foundation & Parkinson Action Network
Direct cost: $ 10,349 per patient per year
Indirect annual cost: $25,326
Compared with controls ◦ More neuropsychiatric complications
◦ More falls
◦ More autonomic dysfunction
◦ 1. Huse DM,et al. Mov disord. 2005;20:1449-1454.
◦ 2.Whetten-Goldstein K, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997:45: 844-849. Adjusted to 2002 price levels
• Parkinson’s Disease (PD) – a complex, progressive and degenerative neurological disorder that causes loss of control over body movements
• Brain cell degeneration occurs in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra causing a decrease in the chemical messenger dopamine
• The major symptoms of the disease were originally described in 1817 by an English physician, Dr. James Parkinson, who called it "Shaking Palsy." Only in the 1960's, however, pathological and biochemical changes in the brain of patients were identified, opening the way to the first effective medication for the disease.
• Loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
• REM sleep behavior disorder
• Constipation
• Rest tremor (4-7Hz)
• Bradykinesia/akinesia
• Rigidity
• Postural instability
• Decreased vocal tone
• Cognitive dysfunction
Rhythmic tremor often
occurs at first in one hand,
where it resembles the motion
of rolling a pill between the
thumb and forefinger
Leaning forward
or backward when
upright reflects
impairment of
balance and
coordination.
Muscle rigidity shows itself in the
cogwheel phenomenon: pushing on an arm
causes it to move in jerky increments
instead of smoothly.
Difficulty rising from a
sitting position is a
common sign of disordered
control over movement.
Some patients report
feelings of weakness and
of being constrained by
ropes or other forces. Parkinson’s disease
• Age is strongest predictor of increased risk
• Genetic factors; family history of parkinsonism
5% have genetic causes
Multiple genes have been identified
• Other risk factors include
Exposure to environmental toxins
• Herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals
• Increased risk
Age
Family history
Head injury
Exposure
• Well water
• Pesticides
• Primary (idiopathic)-Parkinson’s Disease
• “Parkinson’s Plus”-Multisystem
• Multisystem atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal deg., etc
• Degenerative parkinsonism
• Huntington’s, Wilson’s • Secondary (acquired)
• Infectious, drug, infarct, toxin, etc
• Degeneration of the brain’s substantia nigra reduces dopamine
• Lack of dopamine hinders communication between brain cells involved in motor control, which leads to symptoms
Normal Parkinson’s
The pars compacta region of the substantia nigra
in the normal brain appears dark because
dopamine-producing neurons are highly
pigmented; as neurons die from Parkinson’s
disease, the color fades.
Parkinson’s disease
Diagnosis of PD is based on
Clinical examination
Established diagnostic criteria ( eg; United Kingdom Parkinson’s disease Society Brain Bank criteria) UPDRS
Presence of premotor symptoms, such as olfactory impairment, constipation and REM sleep behavior disorder may raise the index of suspicion for PD
No definitive diagnostic imaging test is currently available for the diagnosis of PD
FDG PET Scan
DaTscan may help differentiate between presynaptic dopamine deficiency driven parkinsonism and non-parkinsonian syndromes, but does not confirm PD diagnosis
Motor Cortex
Thalamus
Globus pallidus
Substantia Nigra
Caudate Nucleus Putamen
Locus Ceruleus
Raphe Nuclei
Brainstem
Pars Reticulata
Pars Compacta
Striatum
Substantia Nigra (detail)
Brain Regions Affected by Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease
Physical Therapy GOALS:
Improve motor function
Increase range of motion
Build endurance
Techniques: counting steps, marching, visual fixation, balance training
Can be helpful for symptoms such as stooped posture, shuffling and
other gait disturbances, difficulty rising from chairs
Occupational Therapy Concentrate on fine finger and hand movements
Techniques: adaptive equipment, energy conservation, range of motion
Speech therapy Concentrate on speech impairments and swallowing difficulties
Techniques: voice projection and vocal exercises
Diet Patients should maintain a well-balanced diet
Meals rich in animal protein may reduce the absorption of levodopa
• Carbidopa/levodopa
• Dopamine Agonists
• COMT inhibitors
• Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors
• Anticholinergics
• Levodopa/Carbidopa (Sinemet)
• Stalevo ( combination of Sinemet and Comtan)
• Mechanism: precursor to dopamine once converted, releases dopamine into synapse and attaches to dopamine receptors
• 50% of PD patients develop motor fluctuations after 5-7 years of levodopa therapy 70% after 15 years
Bromocriptine (Parlodel) Pergolide (Permax) Pramipexole (Mirapex) Ropinirole (Requip) Mechanism: mimic dopamine and act on dopamine receptors in the brain
Side effects drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension. At higher doses, DAs may cause confusion, hallucinations, or psychosis
• Entacapone(Comtan)
• Tolcapone (Tasmar)-Risk of acute fulminant liver failure—monitor LFT’s closely
• COMT inhibitors increase the availability of a dose of levodopa by inhibiting COMT (catechol O-methyltransferase), an enzyme that breaks down levodopa before it can be converted to dopamine in the brain
Pathological, socially devastating symptoms1,2 ◦ Compulsive buying (6%), compulsive gambling (55)
binge eating (4%) hypersexuality (4%) Prevalence of ICDs2 ◦ Overall : 13.6% ◦ On dopamine agonist therapy : 17.1% ◦ Greater risk at upper end of therapeutic range ◦ Rare with levodopa(0.7%)3
◦ 1.Park A, Stacy M. Parkinson Dis 2011 Epub Apr 11
◦ 2. Weintraub D, et all Arch Neurol 2010; 67: 589-595
◦ 3. Voon V, et al. Neurology. 2006: 67 1254-1257
• Amantadine( Symmetrel)
• Dextromethorphan( Delsym)
• Mechanism: dopaminergic though possibly affecting other neurochemical pathways
• Useful for lessening motor fluctuations and dyskinesias caused by long term use of Levodopa
• Side effects: insomnia, daytime fatigue, anxiety, dizziness or hallucinations
• Selegiline(Deprenyl or Eldepryl)
• Mechanism: prevent the breakdown of levodopa
• Caution: Increased risk of hypertensive crisis as well as a serotonergic crisis if given along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or meperidine
• Can cause agitation, insomnia, vivid dreams or hallucinations
• selective irreversible MAO-B inhibitor • Neuroprotective • Stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential is critical
• Rasagiline inhibits activation of the apoptotic cascade triggered by dopamine neurotoxins and oxidative stress. Apoptosis is an active process of programmed cell-death induced by exposure to neurotoxins.
• Trihexypneidyl (Artane)
• Biperiden (Akineton)
• Benztropine ( Cogentin)
• Typically used for refractory tremors
• Caution: increased confusion can be one of the significant side effects of anticholinergics. Other side effects may include dry mouth, sedation, delirium, hallucinations, constipation, and urinary retention
• Sinemet in an orally dissolving tablet
• Faster onset of action often used for patients with significant freezing
• Apomorphine works by mimicking the action of dopamine, a natural substance in the brain that is lacking in patients with PD.
• Should not be used if taking a 5HT3 (serotonin) blocker such as alosetron (Lotronex), dolasetron (Anzemet), granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran), or palonosetron (Aloxi).
• Haloperidol (Haldol)
• Chlorpromazine (thorazine)
• Thioridazine (Mellaril)
• Molindone (Moban)
• Perphenazine/Amitriptyline (Triavil)
• Metoclopramide (Reglan)
• Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• Parkinson’s disease • Essential tremor • Dystonia • Spasticity
• NOVEL STUDIES • Alzheimer's • Cocaine addiction • Epilepsy • Refractory depression
• Reduce motor fluctuations
• Reduce total “off” time
• Reduce side-effects of medication
- Disabling dyskinesias, nightmares
• Reduce/eliminate tremors
• Primary function to reduce the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease
• destruction of part of the globus pallidus (GPi), Pallidotomy is most useful for the treatment of peak-dose dyskinesias and for dystonia that occurs at the end of a dose
• Thalamotomy destroys part of the thalamus. Can be effective for the treatment of tremor, rigidity, and peak-dose dyskinesia. However, the risks of thalamotomy are increased structures and the potential for worsening some PD symptoms, including gait and speech difficulties. It can be an effective treatment, especially for tremor, in patients without
pre-existing gait and speech problems.
• Pacemaker-like technology delivers electrical pulses to targeted structures in the brain
• Electrical pulses may block brain signals that cause symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
• Implanted device can be programmed non-invasively
• Therapy is reversible to preserve future therapy options
• Pet Scan
• Neuropsychological testing
• MRI
• Videotaped on and OFF medications
• Medical Clearance
[14F]-Dopa [14F]-Raclopride
PD
patient
Normal
subject
add image low high
BP 0 1 2 3 4
saline methamphetamine
Parkinson’s disease
• Hemorrhage (1-2%)
• Infection (5-10%)
• Lead fracture (3-15%)
• Skin erosion
• Oddities
• Frame placement • Yaw (axial rotation)
• Roll (coronal rotation)
• Both can be minimized with ear bars
• Pitch (sagittal rotation)
• Optimal frame placement parallel to orbitomeatal plane (if no image software available)
Brainstem Lesion from Diathermy
in DBS Patient
• Restart Parkinson’s Medications ASAP • Fall Risk • Cognitive Changes-Orientation • Aspiration Risk • Mobilize rapidly • Urinary Issues • No MRI with DBS unless special parameters met, post op CT is standard
• DBS does NOT cure PD